To serve as the region’s leading
business advocate, promote education, communication, cooperation and
commerce among its members in order to strengthen their
organizations; to create and sustain a strong entrepreneurial
culture in the area; to assist in retention and expansion of
existing businesses and in the attraction of new businesses; and to
enhance the economy and the quality of life in the communities it
serves.

Vision:

To be the one
of the region’s recognized leaders in promoting sustainable,
well-planned growth and prosperity; to serve as the hub of the
business community, the link between businesses and the builder of
partnerships between businesses and the community by:

¨developing a
strong, growing and active membership

¨maintaining a
dedicated and energized leadership team including board, committees
and staff

¨providing
high-quality, value-added programs and services that meet the needs
of our members

¨raising and
effectively utilizing the financial resources needed to support the
mission and vision

Core Values:

¨Service

¨Partnership

¨Integrity

¨Responsiveness

¨Stewardship

Key Strategies:

1.Membership Retention
and Growth:

a. Reorganize
and focus the Membership Committee on developing goals for
membership retention, growth and tactics to achieve those
goals.

b. Staff and
committee members to work together to strengthen relations
with existing members through improved communications with and
involvement of members in the Chamber.

c. Develop
organized periodic membership development activities.

d. Work with
marketing / public relations committee to develop marketing
materials to support membership development activities.

e.
Continually review and make recommendations for additions and
changes to membership products and services in order to add
value to Chamber membership.

2.Community Relations
and Community Development:

a. Become more visible in the community.

b. Regular
personal contact, communications and cooperation with members,
other area businesses and community leaders.

c.
Sponsor economic and community development workshops and
seminars.

d.
Collaborate with other Chambers, business support and
development organizations and education providers

3.Advocacy

a. With the
leadership of an active government and community relations
committee, develop and advocacy platform for issues of concern
to its membership and the business community and the community
in general.

b. Meet with
government officials from all levels of government, community
and business leaders on a regular basis to exchange
information and to maintain mutually beneficial relationships.

c. Work with other
area Chambers, the State Chamber and the United States Chamber
to keep members informed.

d. Advocate for
issues deemed to benefit the business community and the
community in general.

4.Marketing and
Promotion

a. Develop marketing and
promotion plans and materials to ensure that news and
information about the services, features, benefits and events
of the Chamber is available to Chamber members, prospective
members, the business community and the community in general.

b. Develop marketing and
promotion partnerships with members and other organizations to
promote member businesses and the region.

c. Review the image
and positioning of the Chamber in its market area so it may
better represent its service area in order to increase
membership and enhance opportunities for growth and expansion.

5.Financial Development

a. Develop plans and goals,
including tactics and timetables, to reduce the chamber's
reliance on fund raising activities to support the normal
operations of the Chamber.

b. Allow for limited use of
surplus / invested funds to balance the budget until operation
income and fund raising provides for a balanced budget.

c. adjust membership dues
structure to make it more comparable with other chambers in
the region and to enhance Chamber revenue without causing a
decline in overall membership. Review this annually and make
recommendations to the Board for periodic adjustments.

d. Review surplus
funds and indicate to membership how those funds will be used
to support the Chamber including possible special projects,
capital improvements and other uses.

f. Continue to
share office space, office expenses and administrative costs
with other organizations at least until the Chamber has
experienced sufficient growth in membership and revenue to
allow it to support full-time or additional staffing,
additional office hours and office space.

g. Investigate
alternatives for the Chamber's office location taking into
consideration costs, the status of the current office
arrangements and the pros and cons of a location that would be
more visible to members, prospective members, visitors and the
general public.

6.Implementation of the
Plan

a. Upon
approval of the Board and the Membership, the officers of the
Chamber and staff will be responsible for ongoing
implementation of the plan. The officers and the executive
director shall serve as the Strategic Plan Committee.

b. The Committees of
the Chamber will be asked to review the Plan and develop
tactics to help implement the Plan and to present them to the
Strategic Plan Committee.

c. The tactics will be
presented to the Board for review and approval.

d. Chamber members will
also be informed of the tactics as their participation and
support is important to the success of the Plan.

e. It is the Board's
responsibility, with the cooperation of the Strategic Plan
Committee, to review the plan at least two times each year as
follows, in the first month the Chamber's fiscal year and the
sixth month of the fiscal year to assess results and to change
the plans and its tactics as needed.